Two years after buying my Avatar 212...

I finally get the 210 (Delta) to match. Nice little unit. Doesn't handle the low A too well, but I only tune that low for a few songs. "C" is where we normally play, and the 10s handle that fine.

This brings me to my new problem, the Crate head that I use. It's the BXH 220 model. The preamp clips way too easily when you try to push any low frequencies, especially with my Warwick. I have to keep the low frequencies flat on the amp and live in the low mids if I want any kind of volume. I actually get more useable sound when I bypass the preamp with my old guitar effects processor!

In short, I've decided I need a new head. It's a long drive to any kind of decent music store from where I live, so I'm probably going to be forced to mail order. My upper limit is about $600, depending on my tax refund. I want something that will match up well with my Avatar cabinets and doesn't mind being "pushed" and maybe give me a bit of grind. I'm looking at the plethera of $300, 300 watt heads and beyond up to the Ampeg B2RE. I've searched most of the heads and what I'm hopig for is some input from my fellow Avatar users. Any advice will be mucho appreciated.

For about $400 (used) to $500 (new), you can get a Kustom Groove Bass 1200. I had one paired up with some Avatars (B210 and SB112). Killer KILLER poor mans rig. It has gotten RAVE reviews here on TB and in the mags. Hell, some TBers voted "Best Bang for the Buck Head" in the 2005 Gear of the Year Awards thread. It can't be beat for the cash you are talking about...

I've been using a Peavey Firebass 700 into an SWR Goliath II Jr (2x10) and an Avatar B212 Neo. I've been really pleased with this low dough rig as it's done the job exceptionally well for my band's first 7 gigs (well, the last two of the seven - I ran just the 212 for the first five - #8 is tonight ). I got the Firebass for $300 which is the usual price on the used market. I may graduate to a Kustom Groove Bass 1200 like Quadzilla is reccomending down the road, but for now I'm very satisfied w/the Firebass, which has a good amount of headroom.

I really like my Yamaha BBT500H headhttp://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-YAM-BBT500H.html
I see the price has dropped to $530 now from $600.
It has 5 midi changable preamp settings or 11 other sound types including distortion. It' got a full featured compressor and noise gate and level control on the d.i., a tuner out, and graphic eq. and it only weighs 10 pounds and come with rack ears if you want them.
I ordered this amp before they came out with them and have had it almost a year now. No problems and it has the modern sound I like and the occasional grind with one button push.
They're not marketed like the ampegs so they don't get the hype but like other Yamaha products, I think you get more than you pay for. TB'ers sure love the basses anyway.

If you like a clear bass sound (let's say the opposite of the 'woolly' Ampeg line):
It's hard to get out there in the States. But if you can get a used Mark Bass top. These deliver a lot of 'spare power' and won't clip easily.

The Firebass and Kustom are good choices as well.... and not long ago, rmcaudio.com was selling the GK 1001RB-II for $600. I'd stay away from the Backline.

You keep bringing up grind and distortion, though..... not sure what your needs are, but you might think about trying to keep the head under $500 or so, and have enough left for a used Sansamp BDDI.... will give you all the grind you need, great control over your tone, and serve as a good DI box if you need to go straight into a PA or board....

I can get fairly good deals on all of them. Does anyone know if the Eden comes with rackmout ears? Any bad things about these amps I should know? Older threads question the Ashdown's reliability, but that was mostly related to their combos.

I have a QSC RMX 2450, with a BBE BMAX solid state unit. Way cool...tons of low end, fat sounding. But...if your looking for grind you don't want it, unless you geta distortion pedal of sorts. Otherwise it sound great. I highly suggest what another poster did. A head or power amp for that matter and the SansAmp pedal.

If you have $600, you can get a GK 1001RB-II for $600 here : http://www.rmcaudio.com . I got mine from there, and I love it. I am using an avatar 2x12. The warmest sounding amp I have played through (besides tube amps)